It was a rather droll day, though at this point that wasn't much of a surprise for Atem. There was only so much fun you could have in the afterlife.
True he was glad he could be reunited with his old friends and family, but...
Atem shook his head, "I shouldn't complain. This was my choice anyways."
He stared up at the sky, as a gentle breeze swayed his tricolored hair. His thoughts became tangled as he unintentionally dozed off. He didn't dream much, seeing as there wasn't much on his mind to begin with here.
But today would be different.
Atem opened his eyes, and knew he was in a dream once he noticed everything was dark. Then again, it could've just been his own mind space...but he didn't really need that anymore, did he?
"Mou Hitori No Boku..."
He knew that voice, and he didn't want to acknowledge it. It was one he wanted to forget the most amongst any other voice in his head. He tried to wake himself up, but it didn't work.
"Dammit...where is it even coming from anyways?" Atem opened his eyes and noticed two transparent hands on his cheeks. He looked up, seeing a face he hadn't seen since coming here, "Yugi..."
The younger teen just smiled sweetly, and Atem noticed he was floating. It was making less and less sense with every second. His thoughts were jumbled with millions of questions.
"Yami..."
Atem blushed, "Yugi that's not-"
He didn't get to finish his protest as their lips suddenly connected. Atem's eyes became wide with shock, trying to control himself. But all his thoughts became a blur as he closed his eyes again, relaxing into the kiss and grabbing one of Yugi's sleeves.
Atem's eyes snapped open, the sound of moaning and Yugi's screams starting to clear from his mind. He blushed and put a hand on his head, "Dammit...!" He looked up at the sky once more, "Yugi...was that really a dream...?"
Yugi woke up in a cold sweat, he panted heavily, a prominent blush on his face. He glanced out his window, noticing it was still night. He sighed and fell back onto his pillow, his thoughts clogged with questions.
However the only thing that blurred those questions was the face of the one he just dreamed about. The dream itself was wonderful, it was the reality that it was just that, a dream, that bothered Yugi.
"I'm so pathetic...he's gone, and he's not gonna come back. So why do I keep torturing myself like this? Anzu too...she can see that I'm always tired and spacing out,"
"He'd probably be disgusted with me if he knew I was thinking such things about him. I'm disgusted with myself sometimes...but I also can't help but wonder," Yugi whispered as he glanced out the window again.
"...Do you remember any of us Pharaoh...? Probably not...especially not me. I was such a burden to him, I don't even deserve my title. It should've been you, you were the one who helped us get through everything."
Yugi sighed and rolled over, and shut his eyes, attempting to return to sleep. But he couldn't help a few tears.
Atem was hanging around his vizier, Shimon again. He cherished his vizier dearly, however it was mostly to get his mind off his dream. "It amazes me that the one person who put together the puzzle happened to be someone who looks just like you, boy."
Atem frowned, "Yeah...I suppose life is crazy like that. Not that I have to worry about it anymore..." Atem tried hard to hide the pain and confusion in his voice, but he failed.
"My dear Pharaoh, whatever is the matter?"
Atem cursed under his breath, "It's embarrassing..." Shimon couldn't help a chuckle, "Could it be, the child of Aknamkanon, a legendary duelist is flustered?" Atem's face scrunched up, "It's not funny, Shimon..."
"Oh don't be so sore about it. Come on now, tell me, I swear not to inform even your cousin."
Atem sighed, "...The one I shared a body with in the mortal realm...Yugi...his face haunted my dream the other day..."
"That can't be the only thing, come on now boy, tell me."
"Well for one thing...it felt like I was in my own mind space again. Yugi was transparent too...he was even floating."
"Sounds fairly strange."
"Already? That wasn't even the weirdest part, dear Shimon..."
"Hm? What could possibly top such nonsense?"
"...He kissed me."
"Oh? And what did you do?"
Atem blushed, "The details...aren't...important."
Shimon chuckled, "Honestly Atem! If I knew you had such an imagination, I would've helped you pull in the perfect wife a long time ago!"
"We've been through this, I don't need a woman dragging me down."
"You saying you prefer a man?"
Atem's face turned completely red and he glared at Shimon, "Oi! It's nothing like that you hear me?! Dirty old man..."
"So sore...but your flustered expression tells me you don't object. However, your eyes seem to hold a deep question. Tell me, my Pharaoh. What is it you wish to know?"
"..."
Atem stood up, staring out at the sky as he shoved his hands in his pockets, "I'm sure this will sound insane..."
"What could sound more insane than that dream?"
"..." Atem turned to his uncle, eyes filled with determination, "Shimon...is there someway to return to the mortal realm...?"
Yugi was promptly watching his best friend Jounouchi playing a minor duel against his beloved Anzu. They had offered him to play before, but he always declined for pitiful reasons.
I should get started on my studies anyways!
I'm not as good as I used to be.
I have to run the GameShop tonight.
Though not like he would be able to focus anyways, his baggy, swollen eyes saying it all really. Everyone had gotten over Atem's departure, everyone but him. But what reasonable man could blame him?
Atem was a part of him for a long time, and when he left it felt like something died within Yugi. Yugi sighed, Such a pathetic excuse. I should just get over it but I can't...
"Yugi?"
Yugi's attention snapped up to his girlfriend, Anzu, "H-Hai...gomen, I'm just tired..."
"Yugi, I'm worried."
"I know...but I've already tried sleeping pills and such. It doesn't help."
"Can't you at least tell me what could possibly be keeping you up so badly?"
"Iie, it's stupid anyways...I just have to get over it myself."
"Yugi, you can't just keep pushing us away like this! We could probably help you if you just told us what's wrong!"
"...Anzu, I can't stand seeing you so stressed over me, especially the way we are now..."
"Y-Yugi?"
"We're just too different now Anzu, you're confident and smart and you've been getting a lot better at dueling. Even your dancing career is taking off! But I'm in the dirt, and I don't even deserve the title I won..."
"Yugi...you want to...take a break then?"
"It's for the best Anzu, I wouldn't ask this of you if I didn't think so."
Anzu sighed, "I understand. But I'm still going to be worried about this."
"Don't mind me, I'll just be a burden."
"...Yugi-"
"Oi! Anzu!"
Anzu glanced over and glared harshly at Jounouchi, "Baka! I'm talking to Yugi!"
"I want a rematch!"
Anzu crossed her arms and huffed, "You're even more a sore loser than usual."
"Nani? What did you just say?!"
Yugi giggled, Jounouchi was always a good time, even if he was a dummy sometimes. But his smile faded quickly, as his thoughts wandered off again, "...Pharaoh...I miss you..."
"What madness do you speak of, young Pharaoh? There is no such a thing!"
"Do not spit lies at your Pharaoh. Just because no one has tried it doesn't mean there isn't a way!"
"You are so confusing, Atem."
"I came here to join you all, so I could finally be free. But without Yugi...without my hikari..."
"I see. Perhaps we should consult your father, he must know a way."
"My...father?"
"Come on now, you want to get back to the mortal realm don't you?"
"...Hai..."
The two began walking, "So then, my Pharaoh...what is it about this young man that captivates you so?"
"Where do I even start...? It's funny I tried so hard to forget him, but at every instance I failed..."
"Are you just going back to tell him to get over it?"
"Of course not! I wouldn't be so cruel..."
"Your years as a ruler beg to differ."
"I was different back then. Aibou changed me..."
"How so?"
"I feared losing, to the point where I refused to let my own pride be shattered...but he taught me that my pride isn't important. A duelist who's consumed in his own pride will only fail."
"How'd he get that through your stubborn brain?"
"...He had to step between me and the life of someone I was willing to sacrifice."
"Sounds like old times doesn't it?"
"Hai, though it was different in more ways than one."
"How so?"
"Because he had to stop me, he was the one who ended up suffering. He couldn't comprehend his defeat, and he was sure I was angered he interfered."
"When was the first time you two finally figured it out anyways?"
"We were only halfly aware we weren't the same person...but that incident made it clear we were completely different individuals."
"Ah. So you thought you were just a tiny piece of that boy's mind? I suppose a millennium in a tomb will jab at your memories."
"Indeed it did..."
x-x-x
"Stop!"
"Nani...?"
Yami was shocked when he felt something grab his arm, when he looked over it was...
"You...you're..."
"You can't do this! His life is more important than your pride!"
"...Yu...gi..."
Before Yami knew it, he was sealed away within his own mind again, and he watched as his other self forced them to forfeit. At first he was angered, but he sensed great sadness and horror from his other self.
"...Kaiba-Kun was going to die...I was going to let him die...but that other me...that other 'Yugi' stopped me...so then why is he upset? Could it be...it's because he's never interfered with me before...?"
x-x-x
Yami sighed, "Even if it was made clear we weren't the same person...I still cherished his friends and family as my own. Since my memories failed to recap any of my real family and friends."
"Don't beat yourself up too bad, my Pharaoh."
"I just hope Yugi isn't doing the same..."
"You know that 'dream' could have been your connection."
Yami stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes wide, "But...that can't happen here can it? We're not sharing a body anymore. The Millennium Items have all been destroyed!"
"It could be that after so much time being so connected to each other, even without that puzzle the connection is still there."
"...But then..."
Yami turned his head, trying to think, Why did he kiss me...? Why did we do any of what we did...? It had to be a dream...
Yami shook his head, "I would've heard or noticed something by now."
"Think what you want, it was merely a suggestion."
The two kept walking and Yami sighed, Should I try reaching him? It'd be stupid now though...what would I even say...? He sighed again, Just say what you feel, don't be so flustered over something so silly!
Yami closed his eyes, imagining Yugi standing before him, Aibou...I'm coming home...
Yami was trying to make himself dinner. Usually Anzu would do it, but he felt it would be best if they kept their distance for now. Anzu didn't seem too wounded by their break off, but he suspected her pain.
"Ah man, how am I supposed to make brioshuu with so little to work with?!" he spouted, annoyed.
Aibou...
He eyes suddenly grew wide, and he dropped a plate he had grabbed, causing it to shatter. He knew that voice, one he couldn't forget. But why now of all times was he hearing it...?
He had to be imagining it, right? "Ya...mi...?"
...I'm coming home...
Yugi fell onto his hands and knees, tears streamed down his face, "Nande...am I hearing you...? Is it really you...?"
There was nothing else after that, and Yugi sat pathetically shaking trying to understand what just happened. Nothing more came from the voice he heard, and he concluded sorrowfully it was just his imagination.
"Baka...why would he even be able to reach you anyways...? And now of all times...?"
Yugi got up, cleaning up the bits of broken glass and throwing them into the garbage. He sighed, "It's pointless to obsess over you...you're not coming back...so then why do I still cling so pathetically to you?"
It was going to be another sleepless night.